Author: Joe

On the club’s AGM and award evening on Friday drivers were presented with trophies for their achievements in the 2018 season, however, competitors had no chance to rest on their laurels as on the Sunday the first round of the Isle of Wight Car Club’s 2019 championship was held at the Isle of Wight College car park in Newport.

Those wanting to win a trophy at the next awards evening knew that every point in the championship counts and were keen to get a good result at this event. With high winds and heavy showers forecast competitors were going to have to work for every point.

The course was a mix of open sweeping sections suitable for the more powerful cars but finished with a fiendish super tight slalom towards the stop box where the smaller more agile cars could make back time.

Michael Marrison in his stripped out Fiesta made a great impression by posting some very competitive times early in the day, as well as new member Liam Wildish in his amazing classic VW Beetle hiding a Subaru Impreza engine. Driving a more traditional Subaru were Andy Williams, John Barrett and Joe Moore, however, despite the showers they could not take advantage of their all-wheel drive systems to get onto the podium.

In the damp conditions, sliding your car around the tarmac can be great fun and many drivers span or performed a few doughnuts resulting in nothing more than a slow time and a large smile. Adam Greenen on the other hand clouted a curb in his classic Mini but despite a little damage to his indicator was good to carry on. However, Steve Wells left the track in the damp conditions and ended his day of competition by completely re-arranging the custom front suspension of his class 5 car.

Despite the damp conditions and the occasional off, this was a fantastic start to the season and great to see so many competitors and spectators.

At the podium celebrations, fastest lady of the day went to Louise Wren driving her Ford Puma, our class 2 winner was Wayne Hole in his MX5 and our class 4 winner who just missed out on the podium was Joe Moore.

Despite his minor off, class 3 winner and claiming the 3rd step of the podium was Adam Greenen in his classic Mini. The second step went to Chris Wilson in his single seater special, but class 5 winner and on the top step of the podium with a 3 second lead was Ryan Munt who was driving his Locost.

The next event is on the 24th of March and will be held within the grounds of the Ventnor Botanic Gardens.

Every year we hold a non-championship autotest before the start of the season. This is a great event that lets members shake down their vehicles or just have a go for the first time and find out what this grass roots motorsport is all about.

This year was no exception, with John Cooper bringing his newly prepared mk2 Escort out to play and Matthew Griffin letting loose in his RX7. There were new members – and new drivers – testing their skills against the course; not least Oliver Nolan in his Fiat Panda and Kyah Wells in a borrowed Renault Clio. Both were taking full advantage of the advice offered by more experienced members on the day and showed great improvement. It just shows you don’t need to have been driving for years or even have passed your test to compete at our events. Well done to Oliver for taking the Class 1 win on the day.

Class 2 was claimed by Brian Robbins – usually found in the timekeeper’s chair or wielding a spanner but once again enjoying being behind the wheel. Charlie Lower was the only entrant in class 3 with his autotest prepared classic Mini. As well as the class win he looked set to take the overall top spot, but had to settle for second in the end.

MX5s and Imprezas dominated Class 4 and the majority put on a great show of sideways action for the spectators. After the final run it was Joe Moore who took the class and overall event win, beating Charlie Lower by just 8 hundredths of a second. Zach Lower rounded off the overall podium by hustling his BMW compact into a very credible third place.

Three IOWCC crews are competing at the South Downs Stages at the legendary Goodwood motor circuit this Saturday 9th February.

Unlike a lot of rallies, spectators are actively encouraged and entry is free. You can view the action from the top of the pitlane buildings, the spectator banking around the circuit or just stroll through the paddock admiring the machinery.

This year the car club’s annual event where club members can voice their opinion on how the club is run, the election of committee members and presentation of awards from the previous year of motor sport just happened to fall on the current sealed surface champion and overall champion Ryan Munt’s birthday.

The Chequers Inn was host to the event and provided an all you can eat carvery and desert before the proceedings started. Dean Long must have been hungry or he has taken up competitive eating as his plate was stacked particularly high.

The club secretary – Toby Allen took to the stage to explain to members that the club was in good form with growing membership and that we have a few plans for 2016. These include another joint event with the Motion Status Group (formerly IOW Stance) and that the club would like to begin an annual mainland motor sport away day where the club will introduce an opportunity to try a different type of motor sport each year, for example sprinting, drag racing, hill climbing etc. Suggestions for this year’s event are welcome. If you have any suggestions please contact the club via email. The club are also always on the look out for venues for sealed and unsealed events, again if you have any ideas for new locations please let us know.

Club treasurer – Steve Wells announced that the club has made a very small profit last year, however, expenditure has been high with having to buy 4 new marshal radios totaling just over £500, 3 new crash helmets for club members to use, cones and fence spikes etc. Due to the MSA no longer allowing us to provide day membership we have had to create a new entry fee system. Membership stays at £25 per year and event fees will now be £12 if you pay in advance via pay pal on the web site or £14 if you enter on the day. This is still one of the cheapest forms of motor sport available with many other mainland clubs charging £60 – £80 entry for the same type of event. If you know anyone who would like to take part in a car club event who has never done so before, all they need is to pay their year’s membership and their first event will be free.

The awards started with trophies and shields being presented to winners by club president Terry Weaver.

The trophy allocation system is a little complicated but effectively there are awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd for each class in sealed surface and unsealed surface, plus nice big trophies for sealed surface champion, unsealed surface champion and overall champion.

There were a few people who were surprised to have won an award including John Cooper for 3rd place in class 2 unsealed surface and Ricky Sheppard for best up and coming driver for giving many top drivers a run for their money at the top of the leader board.

Adam Morgan came home with the highest placed rookie award, James Robbins was presented with the marshals award for all the hard work and dedication he puts into the timing in the race control trailer during events and Kevin Richardson was awarded with the Ray Bell shield for his contribution to the club in the form of the video event reports.

Highest placed lady of the year was presented to Jill Broomfield and Marion Brett achieved 2nd place in class 3 USS. We have a fantastic group of ladies competing at car club and the option of a ladies championship was dismissed by our female competitors in favor of more acknowledgment of their achievements. From now on you will hear a lot more about our ladies and Jill defending her title in 2016.

The unsealed surface champion trophy went to a well deserved Dan Morgan, who along with his brothers dominated the dirt in their Subaru.

Ryan Munt’s table was already groaning under the weight of trophies and a birthday cake but he had to make even more room when he stepped up to collect the sealed surface trophy and the coveted overall champion trophy.
2nd place overall went to Dan Morgan and full respect has to go to Chris Wilson for coming 3rd overall in his class 5 special that he used in both sealed and unsealed events.

2015 event winners were presented with trophies created from the new car club grill badges mounted on wooden plinths. These badges have been faithfully recreated from the original sand cast badges available to club members back in the 1960s.
If you would like one of these new grill badges for the front of your pride and joy you can purchase these for a bargain price of £10.

All in all, a great evening out and a fantastic opportunity to celebrate members’ success in 2015. Lets look forward to 2016.

Round one of the car club’s 2016 championship will be sealed surface, held at the Ventnor Botanic Garden on the 20th of March. This was the highlight of 2015 and this year the garden are opening up the grounds for free, so that spectators can enjoy a day’s motor sport within the beautiful gardens. All they ask in return is a donation to help maintain their amazing collection of plants and trees.

This Saturday – 5th of March – the AGM and Awards night at the Chequers Inn! Book your meal in advance using PayPal below. Arrive at 7pm to eat or you can come at 8:30pm just for the AGM and awards – see you there!